Heather Dubrow’s Kids Are the Main Reason Why She Won’t Be on This Season of ‘RHOC’

Is it just us, or is The Real Housewives of Orange County just not the same without Heather Dubrow? The brunette beauty did not return for Season 12 of the Bravo series, which premiered on Monday, July 10 and fans have been curious as to why Heather decided to leave RHOC in the first place.

Earlier this year, Heather announced on her podcast that she would be handing over her orange after five seasons on the show. "After a lot of careful thought and deliberation, I have decided not to return to RHOC this season. These past [five] years have been an incredible journey and I'm so proud to have been a part of such an iconic piece of pop culture," the 48-year-old said in a statement to The Daily Dish. "However, at this point in my life, I have decided to go in another direction and do what’s best for my family and career," she added. "Should I change my mind, I thank Andy Cohen, Evolution and Bravo for telling me that the door is always open."

She also revealed her four kids, twins Maximillia and Nicholas, 13, Katarina, 10, and Collette, 6, were a big factor in her decision to step away from the cameras. “First of all, my kids," she said on Heather Dubrow's World. "My oldest kids are now teenagers, and I just felt like they need to make their own decision about being on television and exposing their lives."

But that doesn't mean Heather won't miss being a part of the show and the other ladies. "I'm really gonna miss … the girls' trips," she explained on her podcast. "Before I joined the cast, I never took a girls' trip. Ever. I didn't even have a bachelorette [party]."

Fans have a lot of fond memories of Heather, who is married to Botched doctor Terry Dubrow, including the construction of Dubrow Chateau with its enviable closet complete with its very own champagne doorbell. We're going to miss you, Heather!